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Sunday, 30 December 2012

... well, that's Christmas over for another year!! It's time for our new challenge at CR84FN. Our colours for CR84FN69 are Raspberry, Lavender and a Neutral - warm, rich colours and I had such fun with them. Aren't the photos super? They are courtesy of Martha Stewart. I love the glass lamps! And Scott has come up with a wonderful quote.

I knew that I'd make a New Year card with these colours - I imagined a New Year's Eve firework display - here's my card:

I made the card base from SU Raspberry Ripple card with a mat of Wisteria Wonder. Michelle Gross from CAS-ual Friday Stamps made the perfect set of stamps for a New Year's card. The countdown from ten to one is just perfect! I used my stamp-a-ma-jig to make sure that I positioned both the countdown and New Year sentiment centrally. Next I stamped the "fireworks" - actually they're flowers - but I think they work. I added a touch of sparkle to the fireworks, but you can't really see it in the photos. I made the Celebrate label by stamped the bottom layer in Raspberry Ripple and embossing with clear powder (the new SU inks are juicy enough to emboss if you're quick!). I thought the starburst stamp was the perfect background for the Celebrate sentiment!

I carried on the celebratory theme on the inside - stamping a row of fireworks at the top and bottom of white card. I also stamped a large "firework" in the centre - it's the second impression, so a bit softer in colour. I added a couple more sentiments from the Countdown set.

For more inspirational cards with our wonderful colours either click on the links in the side bar, got to the CR84FN blog or click below:

Saturday, 29 December 2012

... Hi again! Here's another of my scheduled posts. I'm sharing a few Christmas projects that I made at Karen Menghini's Stampin' Up! party. Karin gave us lots do make - she's happy for me to share them.

The bag below is simply a regular carrier bag that you can get at any kraft shop. To make it a bit special I added a card and cover.

Cut the card to fit inside a clear cellophane card bag (previously attached to the carrier bag). Next cut two smaller white panels. On one randomly stamped the snowflakes in a selection of colours (you could use other colours to suit your scheme) and attach it to the front of the card. Attach the plain white card to the inside for you to write your own verse.

The bag cover is cut to fit the bag. To allow the handle to go through, simply line up the handles and cut a small hole with scissors. Cut a piece of white card and decorate to match the gift card, attach to the front of the cover.

Finish off with a ribbon on the bag handles (forgot to take a photo of this!)

Round the corners of the Very Vanilla card, as well as the corners on two contrasting pieces of design paper. Attach the design paper to the card. Stamp the ornaments and cut with the Framelits, attach to the tag with dimensional tape. Add some satin ribbon and finish off with some twine to attach the tag to your presents.

Next we made a Gift Card Envelope with belly band. Starting with an A2 envelope, fold it in half with the flap on the inside. Next cut the sticky flap in half and glue down the left side.

Cut a couple of panels in Cherry Cobbler to cover half the envelope - one for the outside and one inside - emboss both with the border. Attach to the left side of the envelope - front and back. On the right side you will have an unstuck flap - stamp some sentiments below and made a small tag in Cherry Cobbler to go inside the flap. Finish up by making a belly band to go around the envelope - see below.

Our last project was a bottle tag - cut a piece of card appropriate for the bottle. Punch a hole in the top part of the card, score a line and fold. Cut several pieces of design paper of varying length making fishtail ends. Attach to the tag. Stamp three Christmas ornaments, die cut with the coordinating Framelit, score down the middle of each ornament and glue together then attach to the tag. Finish off with a simple sentiment along the bottom of the tag and add some ribbon.

Friday, 28 December 2012

... Hi - this is a scheduled post - I wanted to share some table favours that I made for our Christmas table. It's not my idea - I was given a one of these little chocolate packs by Karen Menghini. I kept the package and made some for our celebrations.

I made 20 packs - they are double sided and each side contains a Ghirardelli Square - yummy!! They are very easy to make and I've done a quick tutorial with photos if you want to make them yourself.

Cut a 12" x 12" piece of double sided design paper into four 6" x 6" squares. I used the new SU paper trimmer and scorer to score the paper.

Place the paper into the trimmer and making sure you use the score tip - score diagonally from corner to corner.

Next, the the paper through 90° and position the corners at 1½" (see picture) - score. Turn the paper through 180 ° and repeat - your paper will have a score line down the middle from corner to corner, and two score lines either side (see sketch).

Now fold along the shorter score lines - your package will look like the picture on the right.

Next fold along the diagonal score and you will have a package that has pockets on both sides - see picture below.

To finish off - punch a hole in the point and thread some ribbon through.

Next is the fun part! Fill each side of the package with your favourite Ghirardelli squares. I've used the holiday specials of Peppermint Bark, Spiced Pumpkin and Eggnog, along with Raspberry and Mint in my sets.

The looks so pretty! I had lots of fun making them. You can make them for all occasions if you change the design papers! I hope the tutorial is helpful - please let me know what you think! Thanks again to Karen for the idea!

Thursday, 27 December 2012

... Morning all - I've been so excited and it's been really hard to keep this under my hat, but I can tell you now - I've been invited to be Guest Designer at DYSU Challenge - thank you ladies!! Sadly, this is the last DYSU challenge - but we're going out in style and the theme this week is Turquoise - one of my favourite colours. I was given a digi image from Rhoda Design Studio - teacups!! I made two cards.

I like playing with digi images - you can make them fit whatever size card you need. I printed this onto white card and cut it out with my Spellbinder die using the "out-of-the-box" technique. I decided to have ivory teacups with the patterns in turquoise and just a touch of orange. I mounted the image on some turquoise paper from my stash. I decorated the card base with various stamps from Waltzingmouse - they were made to go with these teacups! And the sentiment is just fab.

I was having so much fun with the teacups that I made another card! I decided to go a bit bolder this time.

I opted for portrait style this time - so the teacups were printed bigger! I used Promarkers to colour the cups and then fussy cut them out! I mounted them onto a pretty label that I cut from Crumb Cake DP; I inked the edge of the label while still in the die. The sentiment is a quote from C S Lewis and seemed appropriate - I printed it on the PC and cut it out with the super folded banner die (a present from my buddy Tara). I inked the edges and then attached it to the card.

Thanks again to the DYSU team for asking me to join them - I've had such fun! That's all for now. See you soon.

Wednesday, 26 December 2012

.... Today I'm sharing the last of my family's Christmas cards - this is the one I made for our daughter, Kathryn. Since moving to the States Kathryn has discovered peppermint candy in Ghirardelli Squares - and she loves it! I've combined two challenges to make Kathryn's card:

This is a vision in pink!! For the background I used some mulberry paper - love the texture at the edges. The doily is from my local supermarket, I sprayed it with Cosmic Shimmer in Golden Mint and Silver to give shimmer and colour. Next I stamped the candy canes in Versamark and embossed with silver powder. I did several sets as I wanted extra canes. I used distress inks and my aquapen to paint the canes, adding glitter to some. I used the medium Labels 20 die to cut dark pink and vellum layers. I used Stazon on to stamp the jar onto the vellum (much clearer impression) and also on to the acetate. I attached the candy canes to the label. Next, using a sharp scalpel, I cut along the jar side outline on the label base and inserted the acetate jar. Next I stamped the sentiment onto a small vellum label and attached it to the card. I finished off the front with a candy cane, brad and tag.

For the inside I cut a mat of holographic pink card and some white card onto which I stamped the candy wagon and Christmas sentiment.

This card completes all twelve cards for the Waltzingmouse Christmas Card Challenge. I fell behind a bit, but caught up at the end. Lynn - thanks so much for organising the challenge - it's been such fun.

We've had a super time with my in-laws, the time has flown by, and today we head south to Hampshire to spend a few days with my Mum and her family. If you're travelling - take care. See you soon.

Tuesday, 25 December 2012

.... this card is for a very special person - for my best friend, my soul mate, my husband - it's for Jonathan. The last challenge in the Waltzingmouse Christmas Card Challenge - WMSCCC12-12 is to use the colour green. Jonathan's favourite colour is green - so it's perfect.

Jonathan is the light of my life - I love him to bits! So I thought the large hanging lantern would be the perfect image for my card. I found some olive shimmer card in my stash (no idea where I got it) and stamped the Yonder Star background on it in Versamark. I embossed the whole image with Frantage embossing powder in Aged Hunter - a sort of antique green with gold/black/silver flecks - it looks wonderful. I mounted that onto some satin gold paper and the whole lot onto a cream card base. I stamped the large lantern in Versamark onto cream card and embossed it with my own embossing powder mix - a blend of black, silver and gold - giving a gunmetal finish. I used a scalpel to carefully cut out the "window" panels and then adhered the lantern to some acetate. I stamped the lantern onto more cream card and used my stamp-a-ma-jig to position the candle, flame and light glow. I used the mega oval to cut out the die and mounted it onto a scalloped gold oval. I finished off by attaching the acetate lantern with dimensional tape and adding a small bunch of holly at the chain.
I kept the inside of the card really simple - a gold/green shimmer card for the base and cream card onto which I stamped "for you".

Christmas is a day for family traditions - our day starts with cooked breakfast and Bucks Fizz (for the adults). After breakfast we gather in the living room and Christmas presents are handed out. Whatever your traditions are - enjoy the day.

I turned the sketch through 180° as I wanted the Sheriff Star to look like it's high in the sky with the other stars - this fits the theme for November's WMSCCC of having a source of light in the card design. I stamped the Sheriff's star in Versamark and embossed with my own blend of powder (black, gold & silver) giving a slightly gunmetal finish and then I cut it out (very easy). I stamped the background to look like wood (love the large woodgrain stamp). Then I stamped the blanket stamp in Real Red and Bashful Blue to make the vertical panels. I decided that I'd put the Santa cameo in the centre of the Sheriff star. I stamped the image in Cherry Cobbler (one of the new SU pads, so very juicy) and triple embossed with clear powder to give an enamel finish. Once cool, I cut out the cameo and attached it to the star. At this point I deviated from the sketch a bit to add the sentiment. The box comes from one of the images in Back in the Saddle and the sentiment from Yonder Star, I mounted it on a small scalloped square, attached some twine and let it hang from the star.

For the inside, I cut two layers the bottom in Bashful Blue and the top in white. I stamped the outline star in Crumb Cake (second impression so that the image is a bit more subtle) and then the fabulous sentiment in Cherry Cobbler.

Ben really likes cards with lots of layers and details - I think this fits the bill!

Today's the last chance to get to the shops and get any presents - we're off to town this morning to get a few bits. Bye for now.

Sunday, 23 December 2012

.... Hi - this is another in my series of scheduled posts. I've used the sketch from the current Clean & Simple Stamping Challenge - FTL221. I really like the graphic layout on this one and have opted to make a guy card.

I've been totally faithful to the sketch. I cut a mat of Gumball Green card onto which I adhered the white card which I embossed with Rellie Rave - love those funky circles. I stamped each circle in a different colour and used my 1" SU punch to cut them out. The birthday sentiment is from Itty Bitty Banners and was cut with the coordinating die. I carried the circle theme to the inside of the card, stamping some grungy circles and then made the sentiment by combining a couple of stamps. Sorry the photo is a little blurred, wouldn't focus properly!!

I'm really pleased with this card and I think it'll be a hit with the recipient!! That's all for today. See you soon.

I'm cheating a bit, this is a scheduled post as today is a very busy day for me - we're off to the UK for Christmas with the family. I made this card at a recent Stampin' Up! party hosted by Karin Menghini - it's Karin's design. It fits with the challenge - these little silver stars are so pretty, so sparkly!!

Friday, 21 December 2012

... Hi - hope everyone is well - it's been a really busy day here. I've finished all the ironing and tomorrow we pack!! We had our first significant snowfall today too - only about an 1" on the ground and probably not going to hang around for long, but it looked very pretty. And this evening with Christmas lights on various houses in the area - it looks so festive. This morning I took a photo of our back garden through my craft room window - so nice to be in the warm :)

I don't have a card to share with you today - I've been busy getting various birthday cards made to take to the UK - you'll see them soon.

Since moving to the States, I've come to use Facebook a lot! Over the last couple of days I've seen several posts all based on the idea of a Gratitude Jar. The idea is to start the year with an empty jar, and as the year progresses fill it with notes about all the good things that happen. Then on New Year's Eve you can empty the jar and see what a fabulous year you've had.

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A Bit About Me

Hi! Thank you for stopping at my little bit of the Internet. I’m a Brit living in Michigan and loving it! Well, the winters are tough! But the summers - ah, they're great!
I’m married to my best friend, Jonathan, and we have two fantastic kids – Ben and Kat.
My passion for crafting has exploded since moving to the States, and I’m fortunate that Jonathan is very supportive, or perhaps that should be tolerant, of my crafting addiction! If I’m not in my craft room, then you might find me reading, taking photos, or simply spending time with my family.

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Uniko Studio Design Team

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For your masculine themed challenges - come and play!

House of Cards - Top 5

Goes to my lovely autumn leaf - thanks

Creative with Stamps - Top 3

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City Crafter Challenge - Spotlight Artist

Goes to my Green 12 Days of Christmas Card!

MUSE - Featured Member

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Cupcake Inspirations - Sweet Six

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